Teenagers aged 16 and 17 will be offered vaccines against coronavirus as soon as possible, following an update to government advice.
Speaking at a press conference in Downing Street, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam lead the calls for young people to get their first jabs.
Prof Van-Tam said: “I would be very much in favour (if my children were 16 or 17) for them to get their first dose of the vaccine”
READ MORE: All 16 and 17 year olds offered first dose of coronavirus vaccine
Around a million young people will now be eligible for the vaccine in this new plan.
Recent figures have shown a rise in cases among young people, with the hope being that this fresh rollout will help lower the number of cases ahead of a return to schools and colleges in September.
Teachers unions have praised the plan, suggesting that it will help to limit the amount of disruption to the next academic year, following two years of chaos and closed schools.
Health Secretary Sajid David has confirmed the government will follow the advice of its medical officers.
Mr Javid said: “I have accepted expert recommendations and I have asked the NHS to prepare to vaccinate those eligible as soon as possible”
As the plans have now been laid out, here’s everything you need to know about the update to the vaccine recommendations:
When will young people be able to get their jabs?
Speaking at the press conference today, professor Van-Tam said: “I want us to proceed as fast as is practically possible.
“I don’t expect it to be as early as next week. I would expect that this programme will start in a very short number of weeks”
No time frame has been placed on the second vaccine for young people. JCVI professor Wei Shen Lim said that the second dose will be administered “some time later”
Will young people need parental consent?
No. The legal age to consent for yourself in the UK is 16 and prof Van Tam says that as long as the person receiving the vaccine is competent, then that consent threshold still stands.
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Is it safe?
Studies have shown that young people can receive up to 80% protection from COVID with the jabs, and side effects were extremely rare. In the research programme, most of those who did suffer from side effects were short-lived and made a full recovery.
Currently, it is only the Pfizer vaccine that will be able to be used on young people.
Currently, anyone over the age of 12 is eligible for a vaccine if they have certain health conditions, live with any immunocompromised people, or are nearing their 18 th birthday.
What are the potential side effects?
According to the FDA website, the main side effects of the Pfizer vaccine, which all young people will be receiving, are “The most commonly reported side effects, which typically lasted several days, were pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, and fever.”
What if I have a child younger than 16?
As of right now, the guidance is only changing for young people aged 16 and 17. This means that everyone aged 15 and below will have to wait at least a little longer if they are wanting to get their jabs. The only way for someone aged 12-15 to get their vaccine currently is if they are already in the previously discussed eligibility group.
Health Minister Sajid Javid said: “The JCVI have not recommended vaccinating under-16s without underlying health conditions but will keep its position under review based on the latest data.”
Prof Van Tam said that “there is nothing ruled out” on the subject of eventually lowering the age limit on Covid vaccines in England.
